Pinch-opening container

ABSTRACT

A container formed from a unitary blank and adapted to be opened by pressure applied to the container in a pinching manner.

United States Patent Inventor R011 A. Samsing Braintree, Mass.

Appl. No. 832,312

Filed June 1 l, 1969 Patented Aug. 17, 1971 Assignee The GilletteCompany Boston, Mass.

PlNCH-OPENING CONTAINER 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl...., 229/51 R, 206/56 AA, 229/17 R, 229/37 E, 229/51 TS Int. Cl865d 5/54, B65d 17/04 Field of Search 150/9; 206/44.12, 56 M, 56 A;229/7, 17, 37, 511$, 51 D, 51 WS, 51 RC [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,020,804 11/1935 Segal 150/9 X 2,098,818 11/1937 Andrews229/51 RC X 2,337,730 12/1943 Berch 229/17 2,475,677 7/1949 Ring1er..229/17 2,842,302 7/1958 Ryder 229/17 3,018,031 1/1962 Ahlbor et a1229/17 X 3,038,649 6/1962 Rausingm. 229/17 3,259,270 7/1966 Eckles206/56 A4 X 3,404,988 10/1968 Rausing 229/51 [S X PrimaryExaminer.1oseph R. Leclair Axsistant Examiner-Steven E. LipmanAttorneys-Philip Colman, Oistein .1. Bratlie, William M.

Anderson and Scott R. Foster ABSTRACT: A container formed from a unitaryblank and adapted to be opened by pressure applied to the container in apinching manner.

PATENTED AUGI7|97I 3,599,858

INVENTOR. ROLF A. SAMSING ATTORNEY PINCH-OPENING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates tocontainers and is directed more particularly to a container adapted tobe opened by pressure applied upon opposing sides in a pinching manner.

The invention is herein illustrated in its application to packaging ofsafety razor blades. While the invention is particularly applicable tosuch items, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inscope to items of this type, but is applicable to container-held orpackaged items generally.

2. Description of the Prior Art Small articles of merchandise of everysort and description are packaged within cartons which frequently areadhesively sealed. Because of the small size of the carton, handling thecarton while at the same time attempting to break apart adhesivelysecured tabs or the like, has proven an annoyance at the least, and insome cases injurious to the contained article, or person attempting toremove the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a container, or package, in which articles, such assafety razor blades, or the like, may be safely and convenientlypackaged, shipped and displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a container whichmay be conveniently opened to facilitate removal of an articletherefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unitary blankfrom which the above-described container is made.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, afeature of the present invention is the provision of a containercomprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form anenclos re, a first of said panels having therein a generallytransversely extending slit proximate to one end of the container,perforated tear lines comprising extensions of said slit disposed onside panels adjacent to said first panel, whereby application ofpressure upon the side panels of the container, as in a pinching manner,causes compression and folding of the first panel, and breaking of theperforated lines in the adjacent side panels so that said one end of thecontainer is readily opened.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a unitary blankfor forming a container as described above. The blank is divided by foldlines into first and second side panels, a top panel, and bottom panelmeans. The top panel has a generally transversely extending slittherein, the slit terminating at either end at the side panels. The sidepanels have perforated tear lines disposed therein extending from theends of the slit to the bottom panel means.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particularcontainer embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration onlyand not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features ofthis invention may be employed in various and numerous embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings in which there is shown an illustrative embodiment of theinvention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank from which the container of thepresent invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of container illus trative ofan embodiment of the invention, shown in conjunction with a containedsafety razor blade dispenser; and,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views, similar to FIG. 2, but showingsteps for opening the package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, it'will beseen that the illustrative container is made from a unitary blank 2divided by longitudinal fold lines 4, 6, 8, 10 into a top panel 12,sidewall panels 14,16, and bottom panels 18,20. The bottom panel 18 hasat one end thereof a relatively short tab 22. The sidewall panel 14 hastongues 24,26 at either end thereof and the sidewall panel 16 hastongues 28,30 at either end thereof, the tongues 24, 26, 28, 30 and thetab 22 being adapted to be folded inwardly for purposes to be discussedbelow.

The top panel 12 is provided with a slit 32, which may be V- shaped, asshown in the drawings. The side panels 14,16 include perforated tearlines 34,36 which comprise extensions of the slit 32 and extend to thefold lines 4,10. A fold line 38 extends from the midpoint of the slit 32to an end 40 of the top panel 12.

The formed container, as shown in FIG. 2, has a two-ply bottom 42 formedby the panels 18,20 which are overlapped and adhesively joined. Endwalls 44,46 of the container are formed by the tongues 24,28 and 26,30respectively, the aforementioned tongues being folded inwardly and boundtogether adhesively. The tab 22 serves to reinforce the end wall 46 ofthe container.

The tab 22 is disposed to strengthen the container with respect to theparticular item shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes.Referring to FIG. 2, the article shown packaged comprises a magazine Mfor safety razor blades. The magazine is provided with a planarprojection P for controlling the presentation of the magazine to a razor(not shown). The tab 22 strengthens the end wall 46 in the vicinity ofthe planar projection P of the magazine M, thereby acting to obstructpassage of the projection P through the end wall 46 of the container.

It will be noted that in the completed container the top panel 12 isprovided with the slit 32, and the side panels 14,16 include theperforated tear lines 34,36 which traverse the sidewall panels in aninclined fashion, extend to the fold lines 4,10 respectively, andterminate at points proximate to the end wall 46 of the container.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that application of pressure uponthe sides 14,16 of the container in the vicinity of the end wall 46causes folding of the top panel 12 along the fold line 38 and breadingof the side panels along the tear lines 34,36. The pressure required maybe applied by the thumb and forefinger of a person's hand (not shown)exercising a pinchlike movement. After breaking of the container alongthe tear lines 34,36 a pulling motion exercised on the end wall 46 willcomplete the parting along the tear lines, whereby to open one end ofthe package (FIG. 4) to permit withdrawal of the contained item M. Thetwo-ply bottom 42 serves as a hinge for an end portion 48 of thecontainer set off by the perforated tear lines.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limitedto the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in thedrawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within thescope of the disclosure. For example, the slit 32 may be of anyconvenient configuration, as for example semicircular. As a furtherexample, the tab 22 is in this instance illustrated with particularrelation to tr: item to be packaged. The disposition of such reinforcingtabs would necessarily be dependent upon the nature of the item to bepackaged.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim a new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A container comprising elongated rectangular panels unitededge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having thereina generally transversely extending slit, per- 70 forated tear linesextending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacentpanels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally fromthe midpoint of the slit to one end of the container.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said slit is generallyV-shaped.

3. The invention according to claim 1 including superimposed panelsforming a two-ply bottom which serves as a hinge for an end portion ofthe enclosure set off by the said perforated tear lines.

4. A container comprising sidewall panels, a top wall panel, a bottomwall panel, and end walls, the top panel having a generally transverselyextending slit proximate to a first end of the container, a fold lineextending longitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to said first endof the container, and perforated tear lines extending from the ends ofsaid slit and transversely of said side panels, whereby pressure appliedto the side panels at said one end of the container separates an endportion of the container from said side and top panels.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said perforated linesextend from the top panel to the bottom wall of said container.

6. A unitary blank for forming into a container, fold lines dividingsaid blank into first and second sidewall panels, a top panel, andbottom panel means, said top panel having a generally transverselyextending slit therein, said slit terminating at either end at saidsidewall panels, said top panel further having a fold line extendingfrom the midpoint of the slit to one end of the container, andperforated tear lines disposed each on one of said sidewall panels andextending from an end ofsaid slit to the bottom panel means.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said slit is generallyV-shaped.

8. A container comprising elongated rectangular panels unitededge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having thereina generally V-shaped transversely extending slit, perforated tear linesextending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacentpanels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally fromthe vertex of the slit to one end of said container.

1. A container comprising elongated rectangular panels unitededge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having thereina generally transversely extending slit, perforated tear lines extendingfrom the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacent panels ofsaid enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally from themidpoint of the slit to one end of the container.
 2. The inventionaccording to claim 1 in which said slit is generally V-shaped.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 1 including superimposed panels forming atwo-ply bottom which serves as a hinge for an end portion of theenclosure set off by the said perforated tear lines.
 4. A containercomprising sidewall panels, a top wall panel, a bottom wall panel, andend walls, the top panel having a generally transversely extending slitproximate to a first end of the container, a fold line extendinglongitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to said first end of thecontainer, and perforated tear lines extending from the ends of saidslit and transversely of said side panels, whereby pressure applied tothe side panels at said one end of the container separates an endportion of the container from said side and top panels.
 5. The inventionaccording to claim 4 in which said perforated lines extend from the toppanel to the bottom wall of said container.
 6. A unitary blank forforming into a container, fold lines dividing said blank into first andsecond sidewall panels, a top panel, and bottom panel means, said toppanel having a generally transversely extending slit therein, said slitterminating at either end at said sidewall panels, said top panelfurther having a fold line extending from the midpoint of the slit toone end of the container, and perforated tear lines disposed each on oneof said sidewall panels and extending from an end of said slit to thebottom panel means.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 in which saidslit is generally V-shaped.
 8. A container comprising elongatedrectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first ofsaid panels having therein a generally V-shaped transversely extendingslit, perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slitdivergently and traversing adjacent panels of said enclosure, and a foldline extending longitudinally from the vertex of the slit to one end ofsaid container.